@@ -31,16 +31,27 @@ These features can be enabled and disabled to allow or disallow users to use
them. It can be done by GitLab administrators with access to GitLab Rails
console.
When you disable a feature flag, the feature is hidden from users and all of the functionality is turned off.
For example, data is not recorded and services do not run.
If you used a certain feature and identified a bug, a misbehavior, or an
error, it's very important that you [**provide feedback**](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/new?issue[title]=Docs%20-%20feature%20flag%20feedback%3A%20Feature%20Name&issue[description]=Describe%20the%20problem%20you%27ve%20encountered.%0A%0A%3C!--%20Don%27t%20edit%20below%20this%20line%20--%3E%0A%0A%2Flabel%20~%22docs%5C-comments%22%20) to GitLab as soon
as possible so we can improve or fix it while behind a flag. When you upgrade
GitLab to an earlier version, the feature flag status may change.
WARNING:
Features deployed behind feature flags may not be ready for
production use. However, disabling features behind flags that were deployed
enabled by default may also present a risk. If they're enabled, we recommend
you leave them as-is.
## Risks when enabling features still in development
Features that are disabled by default may change or be removed without notice in a future version of GitLab.
Data corruption, stability degradation, or performance degradation might occur if
you enable a feature that's disabled by default. Problems caused by using a default
disabled feature aren't covered by GitLab support, unless you were directed by GitLab
to enable the feature.
## Risks when disabling released features
In most cases, the feature flag code is removed in a future version of GitLab.
If and when that occurs, from that point onward you can't keep the feature in a disabled state.
## How to enable and disable features behind flags
> - To use in GitLab self-managed instances, ask a GitLab administrator to [enable it](../ci/environments/protected_environments.md#enable-or-disable-group-level-protected-environments). **(FREE SELF)**
This in-development feature might not be available for your use. There can be
[risks when enabling features still in development](../user/feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
[risks when enabling features still in development](../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
Read more about [group-level protected environments](../ci/environments/protected_environments.md#group-level-protected-environments),
@@ -163,7 +163,7 @@ For more information, see [Deployment safety](deployment_safety.md).
> - To use in GitLab self-managed instances, ask a GitLab administrator to [enable it](#enable-or-disable-group-level-protected-environments). **(FREE SELF)**
This in-development feature might not be available for your use. There can be
[risks when enabling features still in development](../../user/feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
[risks when enabling features still in development](../../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
Typically, large enterprise organizations have an explicit permission boundary
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ description: "GitLab development - how to document features deployed behind feat
# Document features deployed behind feature flags
GitLab uses [Feature Flags](../feature_flags/index.md) to strategically roll
GitLab uses [feature flags](../feature_flags/index.md) to strategically roll
out the deployment of its own features. The way we document a feature behind a
feature flag depends on its state (enabled or disabled). When the state
changes, the developer who made the change **must update the documentation**
...
...
@@ -18,296 +18,85 @@ Every feature introduced to the codebase, even if it's behind a feature flag,
must be documented. For context, see the
[latest merge request that updated this guideline](https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/merge_requests/47917#note_459984428).
## Criteria
## Use a note to describe the state of the feature flag
According to the process of [deploying GitLab features behind feature flags](https://about.gitlab.com/handbook/product-development-flow/feature-flag-lifecycle/):
Information about feature flags should be in a **Note** at the start of the topic (just below the version history).
> - _By default, feature flags should be off._
> - _Feature flags should remain in the codebase for a short period as possible to reduce the need for feature flag accounting._
> - _In order to build a final release and present the feature for self-managed users, the feature flag should be at least defaulted to on._
The note has three parts, and follows this structure:
See how to document them below, according to the state of the flag:
-[Features disabled by default](#features-disabled-by-default).
-[Features that became enabled by default](#features-that-became-enabled-by-default).
-[Features directly enabled by default](#features-directly-enabled-by-default).
-[Features that can be enabled or disabled for a single project](#features-enabled-by-project).
-[Features with the feature flag removed](#features-with-flag-removed).
The [`**(FREE SELF)**`](styleguide/index.md#product-tier-badges) badge or equivalent for
the feature's tier should be added to the line and heading that refers to
enabling/disabling feature flags as Admin access is required to do so,
therefore, it indicates that it cannot be done by regular users of GitLab.com.
### Features disabled by default
For features disabled by default, add or improve the docs with every change in line with the
[definition of done](../contributing/merge_request_workflow.md#definition-of-done).
Include details of the feature flag in the documentation:
- Say that it's disabled by default.
- Say whether it's enabled on GitLab.com.
- If the feature can be enabled/disabled for a single project, add the
`<replace with path to>`, and `#anchor-to-section` accordingly.
### Features directly enabled by default
### Self-managed GitLab availability information
For features enabled by default:
|If the feature is... | Use this text |
|-|-|
|Available|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is available. To hide the feature, ask an administrator to [disable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
|Unavailable|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is not available. To make it available, ask an administrator to [enable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
|Available, per-group|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is available. To hide the feature per group, ask an administrator to [disable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
|Unavailable, per-group|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is not available. To make it available per group, ask an administrator to [enable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
|Available, per-project|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is available. To hide the feature per project or for your entire instance, ask an administrator to [disable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
|Unavailable, per-project|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is not available. To make it available per project or for your entire instance, ask an administrator to [enable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
|Available, per-user|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is available. To hide the feature per user, ask an administrator to [disable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
|Unavailable, per-user|`On self-managed GitLab, by default this feature is not available. To make it available per user, ask an administrator to [enable the <flag name> flag](<path to>/administration/feature_flags.md).`|
- Say it's enabled by default.
- Say whether it's enabled on GitLab.com.
- If the feature can be enabled/disabled for a single project, add the
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ info: To determine the technical writer assigned to the Stage/Group associated w
> - Recommended for production use.
> - For GitLab self-managed instances, GitLab administrators can opt to [disable it](#enable-or-disable-batched-background-migrations). **(FREE SELF)**
There can be [risks when disabling released features](../../../user/feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
There can be [risks when disabling released features](../../../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
To update database tables in batches, GitLab can use batched background migrations. These migrations
> - For GitLab self-managed instances, GitLab administrators can opt to [disable it](#enable-or-disable-automatic-batch-size-optimization). **(FREE SELF)**
There can be [risks when disabling released features](../../../user/feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
There can be [risks when disabling released features](../../../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
To maximize throughput of batched background migrations (in terms of the number of tuples updated per time unit), batch sizes are automatically adjusted based on how long the previous batches took to complete.
> - For GitLab self-managed instances, GitLab administrators can opt to [disable it](#enable-or-disable-graphql-based-issue-boards). **(FREE SELF)**
There can be
[risks when disabling released features](../feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
[risks when disabling released features](../../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
Using GraphQL-based boards gives you these
...
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@@ -345,7 +345,7 @@ As in other list types, click the trash icon to remove a list.
> - For GitLab self-managed instances, GitLab administrators can opt to disable the feature flags: [`board_new_list`](#enable-or-disable-new-add-list-form) and [`iteration_board_lists`](#enable-or-disable-iteration-lists-in-boards). **(PREMIUM SELF)**
There can be
[risks when disabling released features](../feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
[risks when disabling released features](../../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-disabling-released-features).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
You're also able to create lists of an iteration.
...
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@@ -629,7 +629,7 @@ and the target list.
> - To use in GitLab self-managed instances, ask a GitLab administrator to [enable it](#enable-or-disable-multi-selecting-issue-cards). **(FREE SELF)**
This in-development feature might not be available for your use. There can be
[risks when enabling features still in development](../feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
[risks when enabling features still in development](../../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
You can select multiple issue cards, then drag the group to another position within the list, or to
> - To use in GitLab self-managed instances, ask a GitLab administrator to [enable it](#enable-or-disable-merge-request-conflicts-in-diff). **(FREE SELF)**
This in-development feature might not be available for your use. There can be
[risks when enabling features still in development](../../feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
[risks when enabling features still in development](../../../administration/feature_flags.md#risks-when-enabling-features-still-in-development).
Refer to this feature's version history for more details.
To avoid displaying the changes that are already on target branch in the diff,